May 2026 | Released June 23, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 20, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 22.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.

• In May, payroll jobs rose in 38 states and fell in 13. The largest payroll job percent increase was 1.4 percent in West Virginia. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Montana.

New Jersey

Employment snapshot

• In May, New Jersey added 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.7 percent. In the prior month, New Jersey added 7,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, New Jersey lost 3,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from 5.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, New Jersey’s private sector added 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Jersey added 6,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in New Jersey rose by 11,197, and over the past 12 months it rose by 39,513.

• New Jersey’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.5 percent in May from 63.4 percent and ranks 17th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.

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New Jersey

Payroll employment

• New Jersey added 2,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, New Jersey added 7,100 jobs. New Jersey nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• New Jersey added 900 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, New Jersey added 6,000 jobs. New Jersey private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 35th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From April 2026 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+3,000) and State and Local Government (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,500) and Manufacturing (-500).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+26,100) and Mining and Logging (-100).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-6,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (-5,300).

New Jersey

Labor force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in New Jersey rose to 63.5 percent in May from 63.4 percent in the prior month.

• New Jersey ranks 17th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Jersey was 64.7 percent occurring in March 2023, and the 10-year low was 60.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.